[0001] This invention relates generally to expansion valves used in refrigeration systems
and particularly to an expansion valve that provides for additional flow of refrigerant
during pulldown conditions.
[0002] In any air conditioning system or refrigerated system, such as a display case, walk
in room, freezer or chiller, the load on the evaporator is always greatest during
pulldown conditions. The pulldown conditions are experienced, by way of example, when
a display case has been defrosted or when the case has been loaded with a relatively
warm food product. Once the initial pulldown period is over, and the discharge air
from the evaporator is normal for the particular product being conditioned, the load
on the evaporator is much smaller than during pulldown.
[0003] US-A-4750334 describes a thermostatic expansion valve according to the preamble of
claim 1. The valve shown in US-A-4750334 includes a diaphragm and push rods for modulating
a valve pin. A piston, having one end in the inlet chamber and the other end in contact
with a diaphragm buffer plate, balances flow through the valve pin port.
[0004] In practice, the pulldown load can be as much as 3 to 3.5 times greater than normal
load. In consequence, when sizing a thermostatic expansion valve in the past, for
example for a display case, a compromise was found necessary so that the valve was
sized to provide a pulldown period as short as possible, the result of which was an
unreasonably oversized valve for normal holding loads. Oversized valves typically
result in control problems and affect the efficiency of the refrigeration system.
[0005] Pulldown can also occur in an air conditioning system where the conditioned space
is not controlled and allowed to approach outside ambient temperature. In the past,
particularly in large systems, unloading features in the compressor were often used
as necessary to accommodate capacity differences.
[0006] The present invention is set forth in the accompanying claim 1.
[0007] This improved expansion valve overcomes these and other problems in a manner not
revealed by the known prior art.
[0008] This improved thermostatic expansion valve features two independent capacities, one
for normal operating conditions and another, increased capacity, for handling pulldown
conditions.
[0009] The improved valve provides, within the same valve body, one port for controlling
the refrigerant flow during normal operating conditions and another port which is
opened during pulldown or overload conditions to provide an additional flow path for
the refrigerant. This arrangement eliminates the necessity for providing a single
valve port of a compromise size to operate during both pulldown and normal operating
conditions.
[0010] A modified form of the valve includes a bleed and in particular a bleed control member
which allows bleed to occur only during normal operation of the valve and to preclude
flow when the valve is closed, for example during system failure. This approach allows
larger holding loads to use the same small port as previously described for controlling
refrigerant flow during the normal operating conditions.
[0011] More particularly, the expansion valve comprises a valve body including an inlet
passage, an outlet passage, a piston passage including a piston chamber, and a valve
chamber, the piston chamber communicating with the inlet passage and having a piston
port communicating with the valve chamber and the valve chamber communicating with
the outlet passage, a piston means movably mounted in the piston chamber and selectively
controlling flow through the piston port, the piston means having an interior passage
communicating with the inlet passage and having a pin port communicating with the
valve chamber, the piston means having means biasing the piston means into a closed
position, a valve pin means movably mounted in the valve chamber and controlling flow
through the pin port, the valve pin means having means biasing the pin means into
the closed position, temperature responsive means at one end of the valve body, means
connecting the temperature responsive means to the valve pin means tending to move
the pin means into an open position during normal load conditions, and means connecting
the temperature responsive means to the piston means tending to move the piston means
into the open position during overload conditions.
[0012] Preferebly, the valve body includes an abutment and the piston means includes a first
end spaced from the abutment and a second end engageable with the valve port, and
the piston biasing means includes spring means between the abutment and the first
end of the piston means tending to urge the second end of the piston means into the
closed position.
[0013] Preferably, the valve body includes an axial passage having an upper end and a lower
end, and the piston means includes an upper end received in sliding relation in the
upper end of the axial passage and a lower end diametrically spaced from the lower
end of the axial passage to define the piston chamber.
[0014] Preferably, an annular seal is provided between the upper end of the piston means
and the upper end of the axial passage.
[0015] Preferably, the temperature responsive means includes diaphragm means, and the means
connecting the temperature responsive means to the pin means includes pushrod means
extending between the diaphragm means and the pin means.
[0016] Preferably, the temperature responsive means includes diaphragm means, and the piston
means includes an upper end, and the means connecting the temperature responsive means
to the piston means includes a buffer plate selectively engageable with the upper
end of the piston means.
[0017] Preferably, the valve body includes stop means, and the diaphragm means includes
a buffer plate engageable with the stop means to limit movement of the piston means.
[0018] In a modified form of the valve, the valve includes bleed means permitting flow between
the inlet passage and the outlet passage.
[0019] Preferably the piston means includes bleed control means permitting flow between
the inlet passage and the outlet passage during operation and precluding flow between
the inlet passage and the outlet passage when the valve is closed.
[0020] Preferably, the piston means includes an internal passage defining a bleed port and
an abutment disposed in longitudinally spaced relation from the bleed port, and a
bleed control member having an upper end operatively engageable with the bleed port
and a lower end operatively engageable with the abutment and mounted for movement
in the passage between the bleed port and the abutment, said bleed control member
including a passage providing the valve pin port.
[0021] Preferably, longitudinal distance between the point of engagement of the bleed port
with the bleed control member and the abutment is greater than the length of the bleed
control member measured from its point of engagement with the bleed port to its point
of engagement with the abutment to define the stroke of the bleed control member.
[0022] Preferably, abutment is provided by an annular ring.
[0023] The thermostatic expansion valve of this invention is relatively simple and inexpensive
to manufacture and operates with increased efficiency.
[0024] The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which : -
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the valve, showing the valve in the
fully closed position;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the valve under normal flow conditions;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the valve under overload conditions;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the valve ports under the
overload conditions of FIG. 3,
FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of valve flow under normal and overload conditions.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the piston of a modified
valve having a bleed control member, with the valve in a fully closed position;
FIG. 7 is a similar view to FIG. 6 with the bleed control member in an open position;
FIG. 8 is a similar view to FIG. 6 with the bleed control member and the valve pin
in an open position;
FIG 9 is a similar view to FIG. 6 with the bleed control member, the valve pin and
the piston in an open position; and
FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic representation of valve flow under bleed, normal and overload
conditions.
[0025] Referring now by reference numerals to the drawings and first to FIG. 1 it will be
understood that the expansion valve 10 in the embodiment shown is used in a refrigeration
system 1 including a compressor 2, an evaporator 3, and a condenser 4 having inlet
and outlet lines 5 and 6 respectively connected to the valve 10.
[0026] The valve 10 includes a valve body 12 having an upper portion 14 with diaphragm assembly
16 threadedly connected to the upper end and a superheat spring assembly 18 at the
lower end.
[0027] The valve body upper portion 14 includes an inlet fitting 20 having a sweated connection
22, a filter assembly 24 and an inlet passage including a vertical passage 25, an
inclined passage 26 leading to an axial piston passage 28 having a piston port 30
at the lower end communicating with a valve chamber 32 having an upper wall 33 defining
the piston port 30. The upper portion 14 also includes an outlet fitting 34 having
a sweated connection 36 and an outlet passage 38 communicating with the valve chamber
32. The valve body upper portion 14 also includes an equalization passage 39 as will
be discussed below.
[0028] A piston 40 is movably mounted in the piston passage 28 and said passage is sized
to receive the piston upper end 42 in sliding relation. The piston passage 28 is grooved
to receive a seal in the form of an O-ring 43 to prevent upward migration of refrigerant
from the inclined passage 26. The piston lower end 44 is diametrically reduced in
size to define a piston chamber 46 which communicates with the valve chamber 32 by
way of the piston port 30. The valve body upper portion 14 is recessed to provide
an abutment face 48, and the piston upper end includes a washer 50 held in place as
by a snap ring to provide a retainer for a biasing spring 52 disposed between the
abutment 48 and the washer 50 tending to urge the piston 40 upwardly. As best shown
in FIG. 4, the piston lower end is enlarged to provide a conical surface 54 which,
under normal load conditions, is urged into a closed position relative to the piston
port 30 by the biasing spring 52. The piston 40 includes an internal axial passage
60 having a valve pin port 62 communicating with the valve chamber 32 and transverse
passages 64 communicating with the inclined inlet passage 26.
[0029] Flow of liquid refrigerant through the valve pin port 62 is controlled by a valve
pin 70 which is mounted to a pin carrier 72 provided by a sliding retainer which receives
a superheat spring 74. The spring 74 extends between the upper end of the pin carrier
72 and a sliding spring seat 76 which is adjusted by means of an adjustment screw
78 carried by a valve closure member 19 threadedly connected to the valve body 12.
The superheat spring 74 tends to urge the valve pin 70 into the closed position and
the valve pin tends to be urged into the open position in response to pressure on
the diaphragm assembly 16.
[0030] The diaphragm assembly 16, which constitutes a thermal responsive means, includes
a diaphragm casing 80, a diaphragm 82 defining upper and lower chambers 81 and 83
and a bulb assembly 84 which is disposed in heat responsive relation to a selected
part of the refrigerator system, for example to the outlet of the evaporator 3. The
diaphragm assembly 16 includes a buffer plate 86 which is connected to the valve pin
carrier 72 by a pair of pushrods 90. The buffer plate 86 is also engageable with the
upper end of the piston 40 and, when the diaphragm pressure is sufficiently high,
can exert sufficient force on the piston 40 to open the piston port 30. The buffer
plate 86 includes an annular abutment portion 88 and the diaphragm casing 80 includes
an interior annular abutment 92, constituting a stop means, with which the buffer
plate portion 88 is engageable to limit travel of the piston 40. Also, in the embodiment
shown, the lower diaphragm chamber 83 and the valve chamber 32 are connected by the
equalization passage 39.
[0031] It is thought that the structural features of this expansion valve have become fully
apparent from the foregoing description of parts but for completeness of disclosure
the operation of the valve under various load conditions will be briefly described.
[0032] Under normal flow conditions, shown in FIG. 2, the bulb temperature responds to the
temperature of the evaporator outlet and the pressure on the diaphragm 80 moves the
diaphragm and, by virtue of the buffer plate 86, the pushrods 90 and the pin carrier
72, this diaphragm movement moves the pin 70 relative to the valve port 62 at the
lower end of the piston 40. In this normal flow condition there is insufficient pressure
on the piston 40 to overcome the upward force exerted by the piston spring 52 which
therefore urges the piston into the closed position shown in FIG. 2. In effect, the
piston acts as though it were part of the valve body 12 and refrigerant flow depends
only on the stroke of the valve pin. As illustrated graphically in FIG. 5 flow during
the first 0.025 inches (0.635mm)of stroke follows a relatively even, low curve.
[0033] FIGs. 3 and 4 illustrate that under high temperature conditions, such as occur during
pulldown, a radical change occurs. Under pulldown overload conditions the pressure
on the diaphragm 80 is sufficient to overcome the upward force of the spring 52 with
the result that the piston 40 moves away from the piston port 30 so that the piston
chamber 46 communicates directly with the valve chamber 32 and offers a secondary
flow path and an additional annular area provided by the piston port 30 to that provided
by the valve pin port 62. The flow during this operation increases dramatically as
shown by the high curve in FIG. 5. As shown, flow increase for the first seventy percent
(0.025 inches) (0.635 mm) of stroke is from 0 to 2.5 pounds (0-1.14 kg) of refrigerant
per minute. However, flow for the next thirty percent (0.01 inches) (0.254 mm) of
stroke increases from 2.5 (1.14 kg) to 10.0 pounds (4.55 kg) of refrigerant per minute.
Thus, the structure of the valve provides for a flow increase of some three hundred
percent for a forty percent increase in stroke.
[0034] When the pulldown period is over and the bulb temperature falls, the pressure on
the diaphragm 80 decreases and the piston 40 is urged into the closed position in
which the valve pin 70 is once again the only flow control element. The sealing of
the sliding piston 40 by the O-ring 43 prevents high pressure liquid refrigerant leaking
upwardly into the low side of the system. As shown in FIG. 2, the seal 43 also acts
to balance the piston 40 so that the forces created by the pressure drop from the
high pressure side of the system (P1) to the low side of the system (P2) does not
affect the position of the piston port 30. The pressure (P2) is communicated from
the valve chamber 32 to the lower diaphragm chamber 83 by the equalization passage
39. The piston port 30 can be opened only by a force acting from the diaphragm 82
through the buffer plate 86. Contact between the buffer plate 86 and the piston 40
is maintained by the piston spring 52.
[0035] It will be understood that when the temperature of the bulb 84 falls sufficiently
low the valve pin 70 closes and there is no refrigerant flow through the valve port
62 or the piston port 30 and the expansion valve is effectively shut off.
[0036] A modified valve 10a is illustrated in FIGs. 6-10 which is identical to the valve
10 described above except that the piston is provided with a cylindrical bleed control
member 100. Since the valve is unchanged except for the modified lower end of the
piston, identical parts are given the same number and similar parts are given the
same number with the addition of the suffix "a".
[0037] As clearly shown in FIG. 6, the piston 40a is coaxially recessed at its lower end
44a to provide the axial passage 60a with an enlarged lower passage portion 102 receiving
the bleed control member 100 in sliding relation and an intermediate passage portion
104 communicating between the upper portion of the axial passage 60a and the lower
passage portion 102 and defining an intermediate bleed port 106. The lower passage
portion 102 is grooved to receive a machined ring 108, of brass or similar material,
held in place as by coining and providing an abutment, and the lower passage portion
102 communicates with the valve chamber 32 by means of transverse passages 110.
[0038] The bleed control member 100 includes an axial passage 112 communicating with the
axial passage 60a at the upper end and defining a conical port 114 at the lower end
receiving the valve pin 70. The bleed control member 100 includes a conical surface
116 at the upper end engageable with the bleed port 106 and a flat annular surface
118 at the lower end engageable with the ring 108. The longitudinal distance between
the point of engagement of the bleed port 106 with the bleed control member conical
surface 116 and the ring 108 is greater than the length of the bleed control member
measured from its point of engagement with the bleed port 106 to its lower end surface
118 to provide said bleed control member with a stroke indicated by
Sb.
[0039] The operation of the valve 10a is similar to that of the valve 10 except that under
both normal flow and overload conditions there is a constant bleed flow through the
valve. However, when the temperature of the bulb 84 falls sufficiently low the valve
pin 70 closes and the bleed control member 100 closes, as a result of the upward pressure
from the superheat spring 74, and there is no refrigerant flow through the valve pin
port 62, the bleed port 106 or the piston port 30 and the valve is effectively cut
off. The bleed control member 100 acts as a pin closing the bleed port 106.
[0040] When the bulb temperature increases, the pushrods 90 begin to move the valve pin
70 downwardly. The bleed control member 100 follows the valve pin 70 until the bleed
control member bottoms out against the ring 108. In this position, a bleed path is
created through the bleed port 106 and the transverse passages 110, as shown by the
arrows in FIG. 7, leading to the valve chamber 32 and communicating with the outlet
passage 38. In effect, the bleed control member 100 cooperates with the bleed port
106 and the transverse passages 110 to provide a bleed means for the valve under operating
conditions.
[0041] When the stroke
Sb of the bleed member 100 is reached, the pin 70 continues to move downwardly opening
the pin port 62 and allowing holding load flow through said valve port 62, in addition
to the fixed flow through the bleed port 106, as shown in FIG. 8.
[0042] When the temperature of the bulb 84 increases sufficiently so that the diaphragm
applies a force against the piston 40a, the piston port 30 opens providing overload
flow through the piston port 30, in addition to the holding load flow through the
valve port 62, and in addition to the fixed flow through the bleed port 106, as shown
in FIG. 9.
[0043] The flow curve for the modified valve is shown in FIG. 10 which, for purposes of
comparison also shows in phantom outline the curve from FIG. 5. As shown graphically,
the bleed occurs during the first 0.0035 inches (0.089 mm) of stroke (Sb); the holding
load flow occurs from 0.0035 inches (0.089 mm) to 0.025 inches (0.635 mm) of stroke
and the overload flow occurs from 0.025 inches (0.635 mm) to 0.035 inches (0.889 mm)
of stroke. In effect, the bleed flow provides a fixed flow during normal and overload
operating conditions but is cut off when the valve port 62 and piston port 30 are
closed. As shown in FIG. 10 the bleed flow increases from 0 to 2.0 pounds (0 - 0.91
kg) of refrigerant per minute for the first ten percent (0.0035 inches) (0.089 mm)
of stroke; from 2.0 to 5.0 pounds (0.91 - 2.27 kg) of refrigerant per minute for the
next sixty-two percent (0.0215 inches) (0.546 mm) of stroke and from 5.0 to 12.0 pounds
(2.27 - 5.45 kg) of refrigerant per minute for the final twenty-eight percent (0.010
inches) (0.254 mm) of stroke. It will be understood that the bleed rate is a function
of the port size, the angle of the bleed control member and the stroke and can be
calculated by adjusting these elements.
[0044] The valve disclosed in the first embodiment has been found to perform well on relatively
small capacity holding loads but performs less satisfactorily for larger holding loads.
FIG. 5 depicts a flow curve with a maximum holding flow in the 2.5 pounds (1.136 kg)
of refrigerant per minute range with a maximum pulldown load of 10.0 pounds (4.55
kg) per minute.
[0045] The valve disclosed in the second embodiment, because of the provision of a movable
bleed control member, works well on larger holding loads. FIG. 10 depicts a flow curve
with a maximum holding flow in the 5 pounds (2.27 kg) of refrigerant per minute range
with a maximum pulldown load of 12 pounds (5.45 kg) per minute and the structure of
the bleed control member provides that there is no bleed when the valve is cut off.
The bleed flow effectively allows the same holding load flow curve slope to be the
same regardless of the actual holding load flow. By varying only the bleed rate a
series of flow curves is generated. A possible alternative to the bleed control system
described herein is to incorporate a permanent flow bleed into the valve fixed at
say 2 pounds (0.91 kg) of refrigerant per minute. While this does improve the performance
of the evaporator it has the disadvantage that during the off cycle or during defrost
there is nothing in the valve to prevent refrigerant continuing to fill the evaporator
coil. The fixed bleed is indicated in FIG. 10 by the portion of the bleed curve identified
by the notation FIXED BLEED shown by a broken line. On start up, after the off cycle
or after defrost, the liquid in the coil could cause compressor failure. Another problem
with a permanent uncontrolled bleed is that there is no control of refrigerant below
the permanent bleed rate. If the coil becomes blocked with frost (bunkered) or if
the evaporator fan fails and the load is drastically reduced the valve will flood
and again fill the evaporator coil with liquid. The controlled bleed avoids these
problems.
[0046] Although the improved expansion valve has been described by making particular reference
to a preferred construction, the details of description are not to be understood as
restrictive, numerous variants being possible within the scope of the claims hereunto
appended.
1. An expansion valve (10) for a refrigeration system, the expansion valve comprising
an inlet (20) for receiving refrigerant from a condenser (4) and an outlet (34) for
delivering refrigerant to an evaporator (3), and control means (16, 40, 70 ) responsive
to a signal from a temperature sensor (84) to control the flow of refrigerant through
the valve (10), the control means (16, 40, 70) having a first port (62) adapted to
open to allow through flow of refrigerant in response to a signal in a first, lower
range from the temperature sensor (84), characterized in that the control means (16,
40, 70) includes a second port (30) adapted to open in addition to the first port
to allow through flow of refrigerant in response to a signal in a second, higher range
from the temperature sensor (84).
2. An expansion valve as claimed in claim 1, characterised by
a valve body (12), the inlet (20) comprising an inlet passage means (25, 26) for receiving,
in use, a refrigerant, the outer (34) comprising an outlet passage means (38) for
delivering, in use, the refrigerant, the inlet (20) comprising first passage means
(28) communicating between said inlet passage means (25, 26) and said outlet passage
means (38) and defining said second port (30),
said control means (16,40,70) comprising first movable means (40) mounted in said
first passage means (28) and selectively controlling flow through said second port
(30) in response to the signal in the second higher temperature range,
and the first movable means (40) including second passage means (60) communicating
between said inlet passage means (25, 26) and said outlet passage means (38) and defining
said first port (62), second movable means (70) being mounted in said valve body (12)
and selectively controlling flow through said second passage means (60) in response
to the signal in the first lower temperature range,
the temperature sensor comprising temperature responsive means (84,16) which controls
movement of said first movable means (40) and second movable means (70).
3. An expansion valve as defined in claim 2 characterised in that:
the first movable means(40)is a piston means (40) and the first passage means (28)
includes a piston port (30), and said second passage means (60) includes an interior
passage (60) through said piston (40) and a pin port (62,114) and said second movable
means (70) includes a valve pin means (70).
4. An expansion valve as defined in claim 3, characterised in that:
said piston means (40) includes means (52) biasing said piston means into a closed
position, and said valve pin-means (70) includes means (74) biasing said pin means
(70) into a closed position.
5. An expansion valve as defined in claim 4, characterised by
the temperature responsive means (16) being mounted at one end of the valve body (12)
means (90) connecting the temperature responsive means (16) to the valve pin means
(70) tending to move the pin means (70) into an open position during normal load conditions,
and
means (86) connecting the temperature responsive means (16) to the piston means (40)
tending to move the piston means (40) into the open position during overload conditions.
6. An expansion valve as defined in claim 5, characterised in that:
the valve body (12) includes an abutment (48) and the piston means (40) includes a
first end (42) spaced from the abutment (48) and a second end (44) engageable with
the piston port (30), and
the piston biasing means (52) includes spring means (52) between the abutment (48)
and the first end (42) of the piston means (40) tending to urge the second end (44)
of the piston means (40) into the closed position with the piston port.
7. An expansion valve as defined in claim 5 or 6 characterised in that:
the first passage means is an axial passage (28) having an upper end and a lower end,
and
the piston means (40) includes an upper end (42) received in sliding relation in the
upper end of the axial passage (28) and a lower end (44) diametrically spaced from
the lower end of the axial passage (28) to define a piston chamber (46).
8. An expansion valve as defined in claim 7, characterised in that:
an annular seal (43) is provided between the upper end (42) of the piston means (40)
and the upper end of the axial passage (28).
9. An expansion valve as defined in any one of claims 5 to 8, characterised in that:
the temperature responsive means (16) includes diaphragm means (82), and
the means (90) connecting the temperature responsive means (16) to the pin means (70)
includes pushrod means (90) extending between the diaphragm means (82) and the pin
means (70).
10. An expansion valve as defined in any one of claims 5 to 8, characterised in that:
the temperature responsive means (16) includes diaphragm means (82), the piston means
(40) includes an upper end (42), and the means (86) connecting the temperature responsive
means (16) to the piston means (40) includes a buffer plate (86) selectively engageable
with the upper end (42) of the piston means (40).
11. An expansion valve as defined in claim 10, characterised in that:
the valve body (12) includes stop means (92), and the buffer plate (86) is engageable
with the stop means (92) to limit movement of the piston means (40).
12. An expansion valve as defined in any of claims claims 5 to 11, characterised in that:
the valve (10) includes bleed means (100) permitting flow between the inlet passage
(26) and the outlet passage (38).
13. An expansion valve as defined in any one of claims 5 to 11, characterised in that:
the piston means (40) includes bleed control means (100) permitting flow between the
inlet passage (26) and the outlet passage (38) during operation and precluding flow
between the inlet passage (26) and the outlet passage (38) when the valve (10) is
closed.
14. An expansion valve as defined in any one of claims 5 to 11, characterised in that:
the piston means (40) includes an internal passage (112) defining a bleed port (106)
and an abutment (108) disposed in longitudinally spaced relation from the bleed port
(106), and a bleed control member (100) having an upper end (104) operatively engageable
with the bleed port (106) and a lower end (118) operatively engageable with the abutment
(108) and mounted for movement in the passage between the bleed port (106) and the
abutment (108), said bleed control member (100) including a passage providing the
valve pin port (114).
15. An expansion valve as defined in claim 14, characterised in that:
the longitudinal distance between the point of engagement of the bleed port (106)
and the bleed control member (100) and the abutment (108) is greater than the length
of the bleed control member (100) measured from its point of engagement with the bleed
port (106) to its point of engagement with the abutment (108) to define the stroke
of the bleed control member (100).
16. An expansion valve as defined in claim 14 or 15, characterised in that:
the abutment is provided by an annular ring (108).
1. Expansionsventil (10) für ein Kühlsystem, wobei das Expansionsventil folgende Komponenten
aufweist: einen Einlaß (20) für die Aufnahme eines Kältemittels von einem Kondensator
(4) und einen Auslaß (34) für die Abgabe des Kältemittels an einen Verdampfer (3),
und Steuermittel (16, 40, 70), die auf ein Signal von einem Temperaturmeßfühler (84)
ansprechen, um den Fluß des Kältemittels durch das Ventil (10) zu steuern, wobei die
Steuermittel (16, 40, 70) eine erste Öffnung (62) haben, die sich öffnen kann, um
den Durchfluß des Kältemittels in Reaktion auf ein Signal in einem ersten, unteren
Bereich des Temperaturmeßfühlers (84) zu erlauben, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die
Steuermittel (16, 40, 70) eine zweite Öffnung (30) einschließen, die sich zusätzlich
zu der ersten Öffnung öffnen kann, um den Durchfluß des Kältemittels in Reaktion auf
ein Signal in einem zweiten, höheren Bereich des Temperaturmeßfühlers (84) zu erlauben.
2. Expansionsventil nach Anspruch 1, gekennzeichnet durch
ein Ventilgehäuse (12), ein Einlaßdurchgangsmittel (25, 26), um bei der Nutzung ein
Kältemittel aufzunehmen, wobei der Auslaß (34) Auslaßdurchgangsmittel (38) aufweist,
um bei der Nutzung das Kältemittel abzugeben, wobei der Einlaß (20) ersten Durchgangsmittel
(28) aufweist die Verbindung zwischen den Einlaßdurchgangsmitteln (25, 26) und den
Auslaßdurchgangsmitteln (38) herstellen und die zweite Öffnung (30) definieren,
wobei die Steuermittel (16, 40, 70) folgendes aufweisen:
erste bewegliche Mittel (40), die in den ersten Durchgangsmitteln (28) angebracht
sind und selektiv den Fluß durch die zweite Öffnung (30) in Reaktion auf das Signal
im zweiten, höheren Temperaturbereich steuern,
und die ersten beweglichen Mittel (40) zweite Durchgangsmittel (60) einschließen,
welche die Verbindung zwischen den Einlaßdurchgangsmitteln (25, 26) und den Auslaßdurchgangsmitteln
(38) herstellen und die erste Öffnung (62) definieren, wobei die zweiten beweglichen
Mittel (70) in dem Ventilgehäuse (12) angebracht sind und selektiv den Fluß durch
die zweiten Durchgangsmittel (60) in Reaktion aufdas Signal im ersten, unteren Temperaturbereich
steuern,
wobei der Temperaturmeßfühler auf die Temperatur ansprechende Mittel (84, 16) aufweist,
welche die Bewegung der ersten beweglichen Mittel (40) und der zweiten beweglichen
Mittel (70) steuern.
3. Expansionsventil nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
die ersten beweglichen Mittel (40) Kolbenmittel (40) sind und die ersten Durchgangsmittel
(28) einen Kolbenschlitz (30) einschließen und daß die zweiten Durchgangsmittel (60)
einen inneren Durchgang (60) durch den Kolben (40) und eine Stiftöfffnung (62, 114)
einschließen und die zweiten beweglichen Mittel (70) Ventilstiftmittel (70) einschließen.
4. Expansionsventil nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
die Kolbenmittel (40) Mittel (52) einschließen, welche die Kolbenmittel in eine geschlossene
Position vorspannen, und die Ventilstiftmittel (70) Mittel (74) einschließen, welche
die Stiftmittel (70) in eine geschlossene Position vorspannen.
5. Expansionsventil nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
die auf die Temperatur ansprechenden Mittel (16) an einem Ende des Ventilgehäuses
(12) angebracht sind,
Mittel (90) vorhanden sind, welche die auf die Temperatur ansprechenden Mittel (16)
mit den Ventilstiftmitteln (70) verbinden, die dazu tendieren, die Stiftmittel (70)
unter normalen Lastbedingungen in eine offene Position zu bewegen, und
Mittel (86) vorhanden sind, welche die auf die Temperatur ansprechenden Mittel (16)
mit den Kolbenmitteln (40) verbinden, die dazu tendieren, die Kolbenmittel (40) unter
Überlastbedingungen in die offene Position zu bewegen.
6. Expansionsventil nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
das Ventilgehäuse (12) ein Widerlager (48) einschließt und die Kolbenmittel (40) ein
erstes Ende (42), das mit Zwischenraum zum Widerlager (48) angeordnet ist, und ein
zweites Ende (44) einschließen, das mit dem Kolbenschlitz (30) ineinandergreifen kann,
und
die Kolbenvorspannmittel (52) Federmittel (52) zwischen dem Widerlager (48) und dem
ersten Ende (42) der Kolbenmittel (40) einschließen, die dazu tendieren, das zweite
Ende (44) der Kolbenmittel (40) in die mit dem Kolbenschlitz geschlossene Position
zu drucken.
7. Expansionsventil nach Anspruch 5 oder 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
die ersten Durchgangsmittel ein Axialdurchgang (28) mit einem oberen Ende und einem
unteren Ende sind und
die Kolbenmittel (40) ein oberes Ende (42), das in einem Gleitverhältnis im oberen
Ende des Axialdurchgangs (28) aufgenommen wird, und ein unteres Ende (44) einschließen,
das diametral mit Zwischenraum zum unteren Ende des Axialdurchgangs (28) angeordnet
ist, um eine Kolbenkammer (46) zu definieren.
8. Expansionsventil nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
zwischen dem oberen Ende (42) der Kolbenmittel (40) und dem oberen Ende des Axialdurchgangs
(28) eine Ringdichtung (43) bereitgestellt wird.
9. Expansionsventil nach einem der Ansprüche 5 bis 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
die auf die Temperatur ansprechenden Mittel (16) Membranmittel (82) einschließen und
die Mittel (90), welche die auf die Temperatur ansprechenden Mittel (16) mit den Stiftmitteln
(70) verbinden, Ventilstößelmittel (90) einschließen, die sich zwischen den Membranmitteln
(82) und den Stiftmitteln (70) erstrecken.
10. Expansionsventil nach einem der Ansprüche 5 bis 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
die auf die Temperatur ansprechenden Mittel (16) Membranmittel (82) einschließen,
die Kolbenmittel (40) ein oberes Ende (42) einschließen und die Mittel (86), welche
die auf die Temperatur ansprechenden Mittel (16) mit den Kolbenmitteln (40) verbinden,
eine Pufferplatte (86) einschließen, die selektiv mit dem oberen Ende (42) der Kolbenmittel
(40) ineinandergreifen kann.
11. Expansionsventil nach Anspruch 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
das Ventilgehäuse (12) Anschlagmittel (92) einschließt und die Pufferplatte (86) mit
den Anschlagmitteln (92) ineinandergreifen kann, um die Bewegung der Kolbenmittel
(40) zu begrenzen.
12. Expansionsventil nach einem der Ansprüche 5 bis 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
das Ventil (10) Ablaßmittel (100) einschließt, die den Fluß zwischen dem Einlaßdurchgang
(26) und dem Auslaßdurchgang (38) zulassen.
13. Expansionsventil nach einem der Ansprüche 5 bis 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
die Kolbenmittel (40) Ablaßsteuermittel (100) einschließen, die während des Betriebs
den Fluß zwischen dem Einlaßdurchgang (26) und dem Auslaßdurchgang (38) zulassen und
den Fluß zwischen dem Einlaßdurchgang (26) und dem Auslaßdurchgang (38) ausschließen,
wenn das Ventil (10) geschlossen ist.
14. Expansionsventil nach einem der Ansprüche 5 bis 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
die Kolbenmittel (40) folgendes einschließen: einen inneren Durchgang (112), der eine
Ablaßöffnung (106) definiert, und ein Widerlager (108), das in Längsrichtung in einem
Abstandsverhältnis zur Ablaßöffnung (106) angeordnet ist, und ein Ablaßsteuerelement
(100), das ein oberes Ende (104), das funktionell mit der Ablaßöffnung (106) ineinandergreifen
kann, und ein unteres Ende (108) hat, das funktionell mit dem Widerlager (108) ineinandergreifen
kann und zur Bewegung in dem Durchgang zwischen der Ablaßöffnung (106) und dem Widerlager
(108) angebracht ist, wobei das Ablaßsteuerelement (100) einen Durchgang einschließt,
der die Ventilstiftöffnung (114) bereitstellt.
15. Expansionsventil nach Anspruch 14, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
der Längsabstand zwischen der Eingriffsstelle der Ablaßöffnung (106) und des Ablaßsteuerelements
(100) und dem Widerlager (108) größer als die Länge des Ablaßsteuerelements (100)
ist, gemessen von dessen Eingriffsstelle mit der Ablaßöffnung (106) bis zu dessen
Eingriffsstelle mit dem Widerlager (108), um den Takt des Ablaßsteuerelements (100)
zu definieren.
16. Expansionsventil nach Anspruch 14 oder 15, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
das Widerlager durch einen kreisförmigen Ring (108) bereitgestellt wird.
1. Soupape de détente (10) pour un système de réfrigération, la soupape de détente comprenant
une entrée (20) pour recevoir le réfrigérant d'un condensateur (4) et une sortie (34)
pour envoyer le réfrigérant à un évaporateur (3), et un moyen de commande (16, 40,
70) sensible à un signal provenant d'un capteur de température (84) pour commander
l'écoulement de réfrigérant à travers la soupape (10), le moyen de commande (16, 40,
70) comportant un premier orifice (62) adapté pour s'ouvrir et permettre l'écoulement
de réfrigérant en réponse à un signal appartenant à une première gamme plus basse
du capteur de température (84), caractérisée en ce que le moyen de commande (16, 40,
70) comporte un second orifice (30) adapté pour s'ouvrir, en plus du premier orifice,
pour permettre l'écoulement de réfrigérant en réponse à un signal appartenant à une
seconde gamme plus élevée du capteur de température (84).
2. Soupape de détente selon la revendication 1, caractérisée par :
un corps de soupape (12), un moyen de passage d'entrée (25, 26) destiné à recevoir,
lors de l'utilisation, un réfrigérant, la sortie (34) comprenant un moyen de passage
de sortie (38) servant à délivrer, lors de l'utilisation, le réfrigérant, l'entrée
(20) comprenant un premier moyen de passage (28) qui communique entre ledit moyen
de passage d'entrée (25, 26) et ledit moyen de passage de sortie (38), et définissant
ledit second orifice (30),
ledit moyen de commande (16, 40, 70) comprenant un premier moyen mobile (40) monté
dans ledit premier moyen de passage (28) et commandant de manière sélective l'écoulement
par ledit second orifice (30) en réponse au signal dans la seconde gamme de températures
plus élevées,
et le premier moyen mobile (40) incluant un second moyen de passage (60) qui communique
entre ledit moyen de passage d'entrée (25, 26) et ledit moyen de passage de sortie
(38) et qui définit ledit premier orifice (62), le second moyen mobile (70) étant
monté dans ledit corps de soupape (12) et commandant de manière sélective l'écoulement
par ledit second moyen de passage (60) en réponse au signal dans la première gamme
de températures plus basses, le capteur de température comprenant un moyen (84, 16)
sensible à la température qui commande le déplacement des dits premier moyen mobile
(40) et second moyen mobile (70).
3. Soupape de détente selon la revendication 2, caractérisée en ce que :
le premier moyen mobile (40) est un moyen de piston (40) et le premier moyen de passage
(28) comporte un orifice de piston (30), et ledit second moyen de passage (60) inclut
un passage intérieur (60) à travers ledit piston (40) et un orifice de pointeau (62,
114), et ledit second moyen mobile (70) inclut un moyen de pointeau de soupape (70).
4. Soupape de détente selon la revendication 3, caractérisée en ce que:
ledit moyen de piston (40) inclut un moyen (52) qui contraint ledit moyen de piston
dans une position fermée, et ledit moyen de pointeau de soupape (70) inclut un moyen
(74) qui contraint ledit moyen de pointeau (70) dans une position fermée.
5. Soupape de détente selon la revendication 4, caractérisée par :
le moyen (16) sensible à la température qui est monté à une extrémité du corps de
soupape (12), un moyen (90) reliant le moyen (16) sensible à la température au moyen
de pointeau de soupape (70), qui tend à déplacer le moyen de pointeau (70) dans une
position ouverte pendant les conditions de charge normales, et
un moyen (86) reliant le moyen (16) sensible à la température au moyen de piston (40),
qui tend à déplacer le moyen de piston (40) dans la position ouverte pendant les conditions
de surcharge.
6. Soupape de détente selon la revendication 5, caractérisée en ce que:
le corps de soupape (12) inclut une butée (48) et le moyen de piston (40) est pourvu
d'une première extrémité (42) située à distance de la butée (48) et d'une seconde
extrémité (44) qui peut être mise en contact avec l'orifice de piston (30), et
le moyen (52) de contrainte du piston inclut un moyen de ressort (52) entre la butée
(48) et la première extrémité (42) du moyen de piston (40), qui tend à pousser la
seconde extrémité (44) du moyen de piston (40) dans la position fermée avec l'orifice
de piston.
7. Soupape de détente selon la revendication 5 ou 6, caractérisée en ce que :
le premier moyen de passage est un passage axial (28) pourvu d'une extrémité supérieure
et d'une extrémité inférieure, et
le moyen de piston (40) est pourvu d'une extrémité supérieure (42) reçue de manière
coulissante dans l'extrémité supérieure du passage axial (28) et d'une extrémité inférieure
(44) présentant une distance diamétrale par rapport à l'extrémité inférieure du passage
axial (28) de manière à définir une chambre de piston (46).
8. Soupape de détente selon la revendication 7, caractérisée en ce que :
une garniture annulaire (43) est prévue entre l'extrémité supérieure (42) du moyen
de piston (40) et l'extrémité supérieure du passage axial (28).
9. Soupape de détente selon l'une quelconque des revendications 5 à 8, caractérisée en
ce que :
le moyen (16) sensible à la température inclut un moyen de diaphragme (82), et
le moyen (90) qui relie le moyen (16) sensible à la température au moyen de pointeau
(70) inclut un moyen de tiges de poussée (90) qui s'étend entre le moyen de diaphragme
(82) et le moyen de pointeau (70).
10. Soupape de détente selon l'une quelconque des revendications 5 à 8, caractérisée en
ce que :
le moyen (16) sensible à la température inclut un moyen de diaphragme (82), le moyen
de piston (40) est pourvu d'une extrémité supérieure (42), et le moyen (86) reliant
le moyen (16) sensible à la température au moyen de piston (40) inclut une plaque
amortisseuse (86) qui peut être mise en contact de manière sélective avec l'extrémité
supérieure (42) du moyen de piston (40).
11. Soupape de détente selon la revendication 10, caractérisée en ce que :
le corps de soupape (12) est pourvu d'un moyen d'arrêt (92) et la plaque amortisseuse
(86) peut être mise en contact avec le moyen d'arrêt (92) pour limiter le mouvement
du moyen de piston (40).
12. Soupape de détente selon l'une quelconque des revendications 5 à 11, caractérisée
en ce que :
la soupape (10) est pourvue d'un moyen de purge (100) qui permet un écoulement entre
le passage d'entrée (26) et le passage de sortie (38).
13. Soupape de détente selon l'une quelconque des revendications 5 à 11, caractérisée
en ce que :
le moyen de piston (40) inclut un moyen de commande de purge (100) qui permet l'écoulement
entre le passage d'entrée (26) et le passage de sortie (38) pendant le fonctionnement
et empêche l'écoulement entre le passage d'entrée (26) et le passage de sortie (38)
lorsque la soupape (10) est fermée.
14. Soupape de détente selon l'une quelconque des revendications 5 à 11, caractérisée
en ce que :
le moyen de piston (40) inclut un passage intérieur (112) qui définit un orifice de
purge (106) et une butée (108) située à une distance longitudinale de l'orifice de
purge (106), et un élément de commande de purge (100) pourvu d'une extrémité supérieure
(104) pouvant être mise en contact fonctionnel avec l'orifice de purge (106), et d'une
extrémité inférieure (118) pouvant être mise en contact fonctionnel avec la butée
(108), et monté de manière à pouvoir se déplacer dans le passage entre l'orifice de
purge (106) et la butée (108), ledit élément de commande de purge (100) étant pourvu
d'un passage qui fournit l'orifice (114) de pointeau de soupape.
15. Soupape de détente selon la revendication 14, caractérisée en ce que :
la distance longitudinale entre le point de contact de l'orifice de purge (106) et
de l'élément de commande de purge (100) et la butée (108) est supérieure à la longueur
de l'élément de commande de purge (100) mesurée de son point de contact avec l'orifice
de purge (106) jusqu'à son point de contact avec la butée (108) afin de définir la
course de l'élément de commande de purge (100).
16. Soupape de détente selon la revendication 14 ou 15, caractérisée en ce que :
la butée est fournie par une couronne annulaire (108).